Even if you’re not planning to dispose of expired or extra medications, don’t give leftover prescription drugs to others. Doctors prescribe medication based on specific aspects of a patient’s condition and medical history. Health officials warn that prescription drugs can be dangerous for people who weren’t originally meant to be taking.

During the seventh National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 26, 2013, Pennsylvanian’s turned in 38,196 pounds of expired and unwanted medications for safe and proper disposal at the 418 take-back sites within Pennsylvania.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in one month alone, nearly seven million Americans over the age of 12 reported abusing prescription medications. Approximately 60 percent of people who abuse prescription painkillers indicate that they obtained the prescription drugs from friends or relatives for free, often taking the drugs without permission.